The Patriarch Says: We'd Like the Conversation to be Binary

Mae Lovett

When you come, don’t bring your other

-ness. Please don’t wear those colorful clothes

that you say make you feel like yourself.

They are just clothes, you can

dress normally for one night.

Wear a dress, it will please them.

It’s just one night, you can

be yourself tomorrow.

You know we love you, because

you are unique and proud of it.

We are proud of you, just straighten

up. Wear a dress and maybe

shave your legs. Call him

your boyfriend, partner sound gay.

If they say she, just smile and stay silent.

It’s just one night, you don’t want to upset them.

Please don’t talk about

your pronouns. Don’t tell them about

the drag balls, the feeling of fitting in

with people who are so different from us.

Tell them about your writing, your singing,

show them those pictures where you look so pretty.

Don’t bring up the hormone therapy.

We’ll tell them eventually, but now is not the time.

Tonight we are here to celebrate

you, and the woman you have become.

We are so proud of you.